Cop accused of helping murder suspect

11/11/2013. Murdered Major-General Tirhani Maswanganyi's wife Shareen with other unidentified family members arrive at the Pretoria North Magistrate's Court. Picture: Oupa Mokoena

11/11/2013. Murdered Major-General Tirhani Maswanganyi's wife Shareen with other unidentified family members arrive at the Pretoria North Magistrate's Court. Picture: Oupa Mokoena

Published Nov 7, 2013

Share

Pretoria - A police officer in Gauteng’s Crime Intelligence Unit is alleged to have helped one of four men try to evade arrest in connection with the murder of Major-General Thirani Maswanganyi, and to have supplied him with crucial information on the investigation days after the killing.

The Pretoria North Magistrate’s Court heard on Wednesday that despite the serious allegations against him, Warrant Officer William van der Merwe had not been suspended or charged. The Pretoria News has since learnt independently that Van der Merwe was removed from the team investigating the murder.

Four men accused of the murder - three of whom are SANDF members - are applying for bail, which has turned into a long process. One of the city’s top criminal law advocates, Johan Engelbrecht, is representing one of the men.

It also emerged on Wednesday that the scene where Maswanganyi was found dead and bound, was staged. He was found in a stretch of veld on the R101 in June.

As investigating officer Colonel Abednego Shibiri was testifying, the accused - Tshepo Mosai, 30, Roger Godfrey Moseki, 33, Ndaedzo Isaac Vele, 29, and 32-year-old Nditsheni Daniel Nefolovhodwe - shared a silent laugh at what he was saying.

Shibiri said investigations so far indicated the general had not been murdered where he was found.

“Yes, the scene was staged. I say this because there was no sign of a struggle. The general was a very big and strong man and for someone to take him down he would put up a fight. His pants were also not soiled or messed up, again indicating no struggle. There was one condom found at the scene, but three open condom wrappers.

“The way his hands were tied indicated that the person who tied his hands had time to do so because they were tightened with pliers. His pants were around his thighs.”

Shibiri also said that Moseki’s statements to the court that he was a police informer and had helped the police were untrue.

He alleged that Van der Merwe had given crucial information about the investigation to Moseki.

“Yes, I am saying the information he (Moseki) claimed he obtained while helping police with the investigation is not true. That information and more was given to him by Van der Merwe. I don’t know if he (Van der Merwe) has been charged, but I know he is not suspended.”

The four men’s advocates argued that their clients should be released on bail as they would not flee or evade trial.

Asked if he was confident his client would get bail, Engelbrecht said on Wednesday he did not think so.

“Not in this court, no I don't think so,” he said.

The application continues on November 18.

Pretoria News

Related Topics: